The Payne family of Tooele aren't asking for a lot this Christmas.

"I just want my husband to get better and some help to get my son home," said Wanda, mother of the family.

The Paynes, this year's Tooele Transcript-Bulletin Christmas Benefit Fund family, say the past year has been another struggle on top of years of struggling. Wes Payne, the father of the family, has been battling cancer for eight years -- a time during which the family lost their home and possessions, and lived in a motor home because of overwhelming medical bills until getting into their current home. Wanda now works as much as she can as a cashier at Wal-Mart, but the medical bills continue to pile up with Wes on hospice care. One of the family's sons, 23-year-old Justin, works construction in New Mexico and sends money home to help support his family, which includes brother Derek, a senior at Tooele High School, and sister Audrey, who has a 4-year-old son -- all living in the Payne's Oquirrh Avenue home.

Wes and Wanda have been married for 27 years. Wanda said, "He's not just my husband, he's my best friend."

The support the family has gotten since becoming the Transcript-Bulletin Christmas Benefit Fund family has been so overwhelming, according to Wanda.

"We're getting phone calls from friends we haven't been able to talk to for quite a while," Wanda said. "It's really cool to hear their voices."

The family would like money for a plane ticket so Justin can return home for the holidays, Wanda said, especially since nobody is sure how long Wes has left to live.

"He could have maybe a couple of weeks to maybe a month or two," Wanda said. "But we just don't know."

The rest of the family's Christmas wish list is modest. Derek would like a size 13 pair of basketball shoes, a pair of pants, size 44x32, and a fly fishing pole. Audrey's son Weston likes cars and would like some Xbox 360 games like Guitar Hero. He also likes fishing, skateboarding and golf, and likes games associated with those sports.

Derek suggests a Wii game system would be fun for him, Weston and Justin.

Wanda said it would be great if her sons, grandson and Wes were able to get Jazz basketball tickets.

Scrubs -- size XL for the tops and large for the bottoms -- are also needed in helping care for Wes.

Justin also has a 3-year-old son, Chisum, who lives with his mom, but the Paynes have visitation rights. The little boy likes horses and wears 2T in clothing.

To help the Payne family, please drop off donated items or send money by 5 p.m. Dec. 20, to the Tooele Transcript Bulletin, 58 N. Main St., Tooele, Utah 84074, with items clearly marked "Christmas Benefit Fund."

Sarah Miley: swest@tooeletranscript.com